Hand Tools

david weaverI have something that I think is essential for anyone serious about woodworking. A run of float glass 42 inches long with PSA 80 grit stuck to it flat and tight.

In the event that you come across a cap iron that is out of whack as you mention, it is extremely quick work to refresh the undercut (or establish it) and have a cap iron that can be finished on a washita and strop. Total time for the worst offenders is just a few minutes.

Agree on the manufactured caps. There's no great reason to cut the entire bevel at anything shallower than 45 degrees unless it's assumed that such an angle might interfere with a tightly set mouth (which is a waste of time to begin with).